Current world events seen through the clarifying lens of the LORD's inerrant prophetic word. The Lord's Word proclaims a series of 'latter days' events leading to the second coming of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His Kingdom upon the earth in this generation.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

A Fresh Look At Revelation 13 and 17

(Updated) 11 March 2013: (Updated: 16 March 2013) Once again my comments are about the prophecies found in The Revelation of Jesus Christ and the interpretation many prophecy writers have placed in the public domain, be they blog items or books that have been written in the past ten years or so. And once again it is the 13th chapter combined with the 17th chapter that has been a focus of my attention in recent weeks.

It appears to be a foregone conclusion in many writers exegesis of these chapters, and even by some of their followers who treat their interpretive works as if they are inerrant dogma, that the prophetic figures of the "allos thērion," the so-called "second beast, a/k/a the "False Prophet," and the "megas pornē," the great harlot are, respectively, a future Pope representing the city of Rome, the Vatican City and the Roman Catholic Church, and the Roman Catholic Church members as the global apostate church (great harlot) of the 70th Week.

First things first. Anyone, and I mean anyone, who tries to witness to a Roman Catholic with this mindset as their core exegesis of Revelation 13 and 17 might as well save his or her breath. You lost your ability to witness to Roman Catholics before you even uttered a single word out of your mouth. One cannot reasonably expect to hit someone over the head with a hammer and then expect to feed them milk and honey. Nowhere in Scripture is there any specific 70th Week reference to Vatican City. The 70th Week is about Israel, as the angel Gabriel informs in Daniel 9:24-27 and Paul informs in Romans 11.I believe that the world as it will exist at the start of the 70th Week will bear only a passing resemblance to the world we know today; that if any of us were given a glimpse of that world as John on Patmos was given a glimpse of it in visions we would be hard pressed to explain the changes that will have occurred. A tremendous world-changing paradigm shift of geo-political, societal and religious conditions will have occurred on planet earth. At the minimum the Harpazo of the Bride of Christ will have occurred. Also, in that future world many nations and and nationalities of people which are prominent today will not exist on day one of Israel's 70th Week. The literal fulfillment of three prophecies routinely discussed on this blog will be responsible for just a very small portion of those changes: Isaiah 17, Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38/39.

So, with this background as a starting point, I would ask the reader to look carefully at the text of Revelation 13:11-16 and offer a viable explanation of how anything in this descriptive passage refers to the physical location of the "False Prophet." The most descriptive thing that I have found stated as fact is referenced by the image above. However, when it comes to actually locating him physically on the face of the earth... there is not so much as a single word to this effect.

It is assumed in the exegesis of a great many Christian eschatologists that the false prophet will be headquartered in Rome. Yet according to the prophecy of the angel Gabriel to the prophet Daniel (Daniel 9:27), and that prophecy found in Revelation 13:14-15, and as spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ in the Olivet Discourse as covered in all of the Gospels, the only physical location on the earth that is directly associated with the false prophet is the 3rd temple of God on Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel. As we all know, that is where he will go to stand up the man-made image of the Antichrist constructed under his direction. That "Abomination of Desolation" image of the first beast of Revelation 13 will be stood up in the Holy Place with the Temple. According to Revelation 11:1-2, I think we can safely assume that the Sanhedrin during Israel's 70th Week will only allow Kohanim priests and not the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church to enter into these spaces, for they will be the only spaces in Jerusalem not under international sovereignty or trampled underfoot by the gentile nations. Then again, I don't believe the False Prophet will be the Pope. I am inclined to believe that the man who will be the False Prophet will be of a superior rank to the Pope in the false religious order of that day.

Another consideration for the reader to be mindful of is that in all of Revelation 17, which greatly details the association between the Antichrist, his kingdom and the "great harlot," there is not one word about the false prophet to be found. Not one. Yet, amazingly, an association to Vatican City, and thus the 1 billion some-odd parishioners of the Roman Catholic Church is drawn.I ask the question: On what basis in this assumption made?This finely adorned woman is figuratively described as riding on the back of the Antichrist and his kingdom of seven heads and ten horns. This beast is very obviously the first beast of Revelation 13, the Antichrist, and not the second beast, the false prophet. The prophetic association is to his European-based global kingdom and not to a specific city. The association here is to "many waters" and "peoples. multitudes, nations and tongues" that have existed since ancient times, to ancient Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Macedonia-Greece and Rome. The great harlot is global in nature and also very ancient. Also, in Revelation 17:8 we see that the Antichrist at that time will be synonymous with Abaddon/Apollyon ascended out of the abyss from the text of Revelation 9:11.

But wait, I can hear some saying that Revelation 17:9 says the woman is sitting on the seven heads of the beast which are seven mountains, that this is a direct reference to Rome. Yes, one might assume that, but one must also be acutely aware that the text first advises the reader that this portion of the text is for the mind that has wisdom. This is a front and center clue that there is more here in the text than meets the eye.

The text says there are seven mountains. The next sentence states those seven mountains are seven kings, five of which have previously fallen in history (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia and Macedon-Greece), one that is, the sixth king (Rome), and one that will be, the 7th king which is the revived Roman Empire as foretold by the angel Gabriel in Daniel chapter 9. The 7th king is also the 8th king as the 70th Week has two halves, the Antichrist of the first half (the Thlipsis), and the Satanic-empowered Antichrist of the second half (the Megas Thlipsis). This text for "the mind that has wisdom" is about former, present and future world empires, not the city of Rome and not the Vatican City.

There is yet another problem for eschatologists who associate the Vatican City and the city of Rome with all of this. That problem is the 1929 Lateran Pacts between the Italian Republic and Vatican City. These pacts are de facto and de jure law; they are legally binding on both parties, the Roman Catholic Church and the Italian State.

One of the key provisions of the Lateran Pacts is that the "Catholic Apostolic Roman religion" is the only State religion permitted to exist in the State/Kingdom of Italy. This poses an enormous problem in that a new international all-encompassing religion as made clear the the text of Revelation 17 within the Vatican City or within the Kingdom of Italy is an impossibility due to the Lateran Pacts. It would be big-time illegal to say the least. Another problem is that the Lateran Pacts cite very specific religious worship dates which the Italian State is obligated to adhere to. Changing any of these for a new global system of worship in The Vatican or the Republic of Italy would be definitively against the de jure of the Lateran Pacts.

As I read the text Revelation chapters 13 and 17, in association with the Book of Daniel, I discern a focus on Israel, on Jerusalem and on the coming Jewish Temple that will stand on Temple Mount. I also discern a revived "Roman Empire" led by a "Roman Antichrist" (probably of Jewish blood) that is symbolized by "Ten Toes" of two feet of a statue dreampt of by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar and interpreted by the prophet Daniel. I don't discern anything singularly pointing to the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church or its parishioners being, respectively, the False Prophet or great harlot global religion.In conclusion I also note that through the prophet Isaiah God referred to Jerusalem as a harlot (see Isaiah 1:21-23) and also through the prophet Ezekiel (see extensive passage of Ezekiel 16:15-63). Then we turn back to Revelation 11:7-13 which deals with Jerusalem in the 70th Week; the ministry of the Two Witnesses; their murder at the hands of the Antichrist, who is fully indwelt by Abaddon/Apollyon at his recovery from what appears to be a mortal head wound, and the Two Witnesses resurrection on the third day and immediate Harpazo directly into Heaven in the view of the whole world:

When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the
bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see
their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies
to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice
over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two
prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. Now after the
three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they
stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And
they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And
they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. In the
same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In
the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were
afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven."

Notice the bold text in the above quote and consider it with respect to Revelation 17:15...

"Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues."

In conjunction with what we were told in Revelation 11:2 about the city of Jerusalem...

"But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months."

And it becomes clear that Jerusalem is as much a part of the global "great harlot" as is anywhere else on the earth at that time. This is also concurrent with the fulfillment of Jesus prophecy to the Jews in John 5:43

"I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive."

And receive him they will, so much so that in short order his image created by men at the behest of the false Prophet will be standing in the Holy Place within the temple of God in Jerusalem, and thereby leaving nothing in Jerusalem not occupied by the Antichrist, his False Prophet and the Great Harlot during the final 42-months of the 70th Week.And thus begins the Megas Thlipsis, the Great Tribulation, the final 42 months before the return of Jesus Christ with His Bride to the earth leading to the establishment of the Kingdom of God on the earth.

Hey Sean, quick question, last week I mentioned in a comment a growing number of teachers teaching that the Antichrist will be the final pope. it didn't get published which is fine by me, but I'm just curious, is this post a response to that statement?

Looking forward to it, but basically what I said in the previous comment that did not get posted was that I was simply wondering what your thoughts are on a growing number of teachers teaching this and by the way I was not referring to Bill Salus. I was just starting to get concerned and I was noticing about the teaching that the Antichrist will be a pope has been on the rise and I was simply wondering if you were going to address it

I agree with you there's a growing number of prophecy teachers who, IMHO, has gone off the proverbial reservation. I do intend to post my views in the update I hope to complete sometime tomorrow.

Also, and FWIW, I am very happy to say I'm now a "Prophecy Partner" with Lamb & Lion Ministries. Solid teaching by Dr. Reagan and web minister Nathan Jones plus an incredible, truly cutting-edge program that covers more bases than I can name here.

I had a real light breakfast which is abnormal for me and I couldn't figure out why I was so discontent trying to get through the whole ordeal. Then I chugged around trying to get past the mundane things and out to my SON-room and onto my computer. Now I know what was hastening me on! Eureka you did it again. Oh, I could hug your neck for this new posting and I really mean that.

Indeed, Roman Catholic Church and the Pontificate were mentioned in scripture. Rome was under the control of Caesar's and what became of that power grid is beyond most people's imagination. So much solid meat in your newest educational treatise that I might now have to miss lunch and dinner. Love this so much to learn and absorb that I will keep quiet for a little while yet.

By the way, Terry James has a new posting out today that I took a peek at in the wee hours before not a soul was stirring, not even our cat.

GG5/SHALOMP.S. Great news about Bro. Reagan's gaining you as a Prophecy Partner. Congratulations.

The correct way to handle it, shaking the dust off is becoming commonplace:

"If you are like me, and many other of our brethren, the believing in and teaching of this kind of eschatology is very problematic, and we have strong objections to it. My objection is centered first and foremost upon this teaching being contrary to the Scripture warning of Revelation 22:18-19. This objection was privately delivered to and summarily rejected by Bill Salus, as if just a single viewing of the above video and purchase of the book the video seeks to sell will validate this eisegesis. I do not intend to belabor this issue, and would rather dust off my sandals and move forward in my own labors, and allow the reader to determine what they will about this. The original post below was forwarded to Bill Salus as my pre-existent response and rebuke to what he is teaching today."

From March 2013 to June 2017, a solid four years time, and given the specificity found within Scripture discussed above with respect to the second beast, the false prophet, and his clear and very close association with the 3rd Temple, so close that he has access to the inner sanctum known as the Holy Place - no one has put forward or asked if the False Prophet could be Jewish!

And again, John 5:43 is Jesus prophecy to the Jews. It was not Romans or Roman Catholicism Jesus was addressing with this prophecy, on the contrary it was Judaism. Judaism will recieve the one who comes in his own name.

There's more here, but lets put this up front and see where it leads in the study of Scripture comcerning Israel's 70th Week.

I made a big mistake in my statement, 2nd paragraph of 6/8/2017 at 12:07 P.M. I meant to say "Indeed, Roman Catholic Church and the Pontificate were never mentioned in scripture. Rome was under the control of Caesar's and what became of that power grid is beyond most people's imagination". For that matter, what makes any of us believe that the Sanhedrin would allow anyone other than a ceremonially qualified Jewish man (my memory won't cooperate with me today and I cannot recall the proper title I am searching for in this regard) who is of the priestly Family? In no way would that happen and so, my thinking has some hated limitations right now.

But even in that state of my ability, I recognize that there is something very wrong with the idea that any jack leg can convince the Sanhedrin to allow them to even enter into their Holy Assemblage. Not even some of our so called esteemed clergymen are allowed in and it would cause me to almost gag if anyone should think so highly of their own self that they could saunter in and be accepted. They have no idea of the stupidity of their delusions.

Sean, The antichrist reveals his power to the world by killing the two witnesses sent by God. The jews see this and the false prophet calling down fire from heaven just like Elijah. Because their hearts are still hardened they believe the the ones "coming in their own name" instead of listening to the true prophets, probably because they are calling on the jews to believe on Yeshua/Jesus just like John the baptist. Past is prologue.

Hey sean, you mentioned gary stearman. I used to watch him all the time, and he was good too, but lately he has people like avi lipkin and other people who are kind of sketchy. He's pretty good but seem to lack discernment

In the necessary update of the original post from 2013 there is an edited specification which relates to both Revelation 13:1-4 and 17:9-11.

The Antichrist initially rises powered by the dragon (Satan). Here he is the 7th king. Then towards the end of the first 42 months the Antichrist receives the apparently mortal head wound.

((It is at this point the False Prophet has men construct the image of the Beast (Antichrist). The False prophet then places this image within the 3rd Temple's Holy Place. This is the Abomination of Desolation.))

In what the world will believe is a miraculous recovery from the the mortal head wound Antichrist is indwelt directly by Satan for the final 42 months of the 70th Week. Now he has become the 8th. So, this fulfills Antichrist being both the 7th king and the 8th king.

This is when he is allowed to kill the Two Witnesses. On the third day they are raised from the dead by the LORD God and are Harpazoed into Heaven at that same time and in full view of the inhabitants of a deceived world. In all probability, this Harpazo will be on live satellite television broadcast.

Also recall that the 144,000 Jewish evangelists (12,000 from every tribe of Israel) are conducting their ministry. This means that God has already poured out His Spirit upon "all Israel" in fulfillment of many prophecies, such as Ezekiel 39:29 and Romans 11:25 just to name a couple. I also believe this is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah 12:10.

I agree. How Stearman could sit there and allow himself to be so taken in and participate in Bill's eisegesis is beyond me to explain. In this half-hour program these two men have, among other really off-the-wall teachings, literally destroyed the Divine integrity of the prophecy given by the angel Gabriel in Daniel 9:24-27.

We know the 70th Week is indivisible beyond its two clearly defined halves of 1260 days/42 months due to what God has said in Revelation 11:6 and 12:3. This places both men in jeopardy of violating Revelation 22:18-19.

Also, I look forward to Romans 11:26 where the apostle Paul states that after the gentiles have come in " all Israel will be saved.It would seem that their eyes will be opened when they understand what God's 144,000 jewish believers in Jesus have been declaring, the two witnesses are killed by the a/c and the a/c commits the AoD.

Sean:Sorry to hear about Bill Salis. Stange things are happening. You are doing the right thing morally and Biblically. Stay true to the Holy Spirit and scripture.

Wonder is the 'stawberry moon' has any affects on people and prophecy?

Luke 21:25, 26 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

This is a comment in response to the mention of all Israel being saved after the Harpazo. As far as I know, the bible has 2 principal ways of referring to the Jewish people, as Jacob and as Israel. Thinking back to the story of the original Jacob, the name Jacob means supplanter but when Jacob had wrestled with the angel all night, God renamed him Israel, which means a prince with God. When Rabbi Saul wrote that all Israel will be saved, I personally believe this applies to the Jews whose hearts are open to receive the Gospel of the Kingdom with sincerity (after the Harpazo, when God is no longer hiding the truth in part from them as He is now). There will most probably be many Jews who never achieve "Israel status" spiritually and will be lost. Some of these lost Jews will be the ones who do not flee to the mountains when they see the abomination of desolation, because they will have bought into the antichrist system and will not believe the warnings (similar to any Jews who would not have applied the blood of the lamb to their door before the Exodus). Zechariah indicates that during the final battle for Jerusalem, 2/3 will perish but 1/3 will be preserved, and will be the Lord's as He brings them through the fire and refines them. God will of course know who the believers among them are.

This is the simple way to say that Paul's God-breathed declaration of Romans 11:26 that "all Israēl shall be saved as it is written" has been defined and confirmed by other God-breathed Scripture. The entire text of Romans 11 is definitive by its very nature, yet amplified by other Scripture. For example, here are two instances of amplification.

In the first instance, and in conjunction with what Paul wrote to the Romans in Chapter 11, the all Israēl that shall be saved (sōzō i.e. delivered from destruction) was defined by Paul in Galatians 6:16.

This is the "Israēl of God" and includes those genetically descended from Israēl as well as those grafted in by Grace and chosen by God for salvation. (Paul himself, a Jew by birth and citizen of Rome, is without question one of those chosen by God for salvation.)

All of these are the "Israēl of God" which God has chosen to be Israēlites. Being saved by the Blood of the Lamb, they both are also Christians.

In the second instance, the genetic Israel has been defined by God in The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Chapter 7, beginning at verse 3: (emphasis mine)

""Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;[a]of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed;of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.""

This is literally the how and the when of the genetic "all Israel shall be saved as it is written," and occurs in literal accordance with the additional amplification of Ezekiel 39:29, "I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel," and the entire text of Zechariah 12, as well as Isaiah 59:20-21 and Jeremiah 31.

Hi Sean, the 144,000 are described as young unmarried men. Apologies if this is in any way off topic (and I suspect I am probably misunderstanding what you wrote and/or confusing myself)...is it your interpretation that the 144,000 will represent the exclusive fulfillment of those prophecies?

There is nothing within the Koine Greek text of Revelation 7 which describes the 144,000 as anything but male servants of God. There is nothing in the text which is descriptive of their age or marital status.

They are supernaturally protected by God from any harm, including harm from Antichrist.

Beyond what I believe, what I have stated is 100% consistent with the dispensational futurist view of Bible prophecy. In short, it is doctrine to me.

I awoke this morning heavily burdened by the LORD God that my response to Miriam above was incomplete, and incorrect, and he sent me back to her statement and also to the text the Holy Spirit-filled Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 11:26 and again to The Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapter 14.

Here then is one final word in response to what Miriam stated above:

"This is a comment in response to the mention of all Israel being saved after the Harpazo. As far as I know, the bible has 2 principal ways of referring to the Jewish people, as Jacob and as Israel."

"And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer shall come out of Zion, and shall turn away the ungodliness from Jacob."

From the LORD's lips to Paul's pen by the Holy Spirit; this sentence of Scripture is inerrant in every respect, perfect in its composition and syntax.

Additionally, and with respect to the 144,000 from the mouth of God, there is the correction of my own error. There is nothing in Revelation 7, but in Revelation 14 is found the amplification on their marital status.

Revelation 14:1

"Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads."

Revelation 14:3-5

"They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth."

"These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb."

"And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God."

They are the firstfruits of the greater harvest to God and the Lamb coming out of all Israel and the world during the 70th Week.

For the bride of Christ, the firstfruits are for us as declared by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:20 and 1 Corinthians 16:2 and 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.

Thank you so much for your response Sean, and I am sorry to have been the cause of stress :-)

Your revisiting of Romans pointed out a verse that I had read but the meaning of which had clearly not sunk in before. And now I realize my thoughts about that were in error.

This confuses me because as has been discussed here before, there will be many Jews who will sign on with the beast system. It cannot be that those that have taken the mark will be redeemed after that.

It seems to me that this is a complicated subject and I don't want to send this discussion off in an unintended direction, so maybe it would be better to revisit all of this at a future time. I appreciate the insight and will need to put on my thinking cap and pray about this.

Dear Sean,I don't know where you want to put this comment, hopefully not in the trash, but I want to share something that just happened on our week vacation to Cape Cod, MA.I followed your posts and everyone's comments while on vacation. We stayed in acondo in North Truro almost to the end of Cape Cod. On our first day we exploredProvincetown already knowing ahead of time that many of the people there follow alifestyle apart from the word of God. Provincetown is a recognized InternationalLGBT City! They live the lifestyle and flaunt it. Anyway, when we went to find outwhat the tall tower was all about in the center of town, we learned the first pilgrims did not first land at Plimouth but first came ashore on Cape Cod. They have a monument depicting the site. You might guess where I'm going with this. We all know the scripture that tells us we are all pilgrims here and heaven is our home. That is what I first thought of when learning that. Then yesterday, our last day before traveling home, three large wooden ships that reminded me of the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria were sitting in the bay outside my window. It was sooo eerie. It was like God was looking right at me and reminding me you are a pilgrim here, it is almost time for you to come home!!! Well, after talking to God about this and just crying because of His awesomeness, I went into town to where one of the ships had anchored. I got to go on the ship. It was basically a floating museum. It was only going to be there for that day! I asked the man who was taking my ticket why the other two ships didn't come into port. He told me he did not know, they were not associated with them. But he said that his ship and the other two were going to Boston. The other two were going to race in the tall ship Regatta. We went to Boston on Wednesday, two days ago from now. One of the tour guides we talked to told us "the tall ships were coming!" Anyway, I of course thought all about the meanings in the prophetic light. Maybe God was seeing if I would catch any of the significance, not forgetting the sin of that mankind is so pride to flaunt. Sudden destruction will come upon them. It was so sad to witness the rejection of God:(

Sean, As I was rereading this sitrep, I couldn't help but think how often we have fallen into the same trap that Eve fell into. The serpent uses deception and doubt to cause us to believe something false.You have broken down the Rev 13 and 17 verses and clearly ended the false teaching concerning a pope. The deception and false miracles bring the unbelieving world to choose between following the evil one or to believe the multitude of witnesses that God will provide (plus His Word) and follow Him.We have a tendency to want to believe something someone says even though it is not written in God's word. For that I say thank you for staying in His Word.To often our confusion comes when we forget or can't see clearly the big picture. And instead of praying with Jesus, we are sleeping with the disciples in the garden.These are perilous times and we should be diligent to have our armor on and walk in the Spirit.